Highrise-dense NCR presses for Lift Act but key meet still on hold

GHAZIABAD: The malfunctioning of a lift at the GMC on Monday was the last in a series of mishaps involving lifts in UP in the recent past. In May last year, a woman was seriously injured after the lift in which she was travelling to her eighth floor flat in Niho Scottish Garden housing society in Indirapuram fell freely by two floors. The woman, Nivedita Chaturvedi (41), had to undergo surgery and was hospitalized for several days in a Noida hospital.

In January this year, a 12-year-old boy remained stuck inside a lift in Shipra Neo apartments in Indirapuram for more than 30 minutes following a power cut. The lift did not function, even after the power back-up system of the society was turned on.

Owing to numerous instances of lift malfunctioning and accidents in the city, the Federation of Associations of Apartment Owners (FedAoA) of Ghaziabad had filed a PIL in Allahabad High Court demanding implementation of a Lift Act in the state. The PIL was filed on May 17 last year and is still pending in the court.

The federation had also written to CM Akhilesh Yadav in December last year, demanding the same. Yadav had directed the principal secretary of the housing department in January to hold a meeting with the federation for expediting enactment of the Act. "However, the meeting has not fructified so far. The PIL is also pending in the HC and its hearing is scheduled in May. Lift accidents continue to take place in Ghaziabad at an alarming rate in the absence of comprehensive guidelines," federation president Alok Kumar told TOI.

In December, UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple were stuck in a lift in the Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow for around 20 minutes. The PWD had suspended three engineers while an FIR had also been registered against the lift operating firm.

"The Ghaziabad Development Authority has sent a set of detailed provisions to the government for compiling a comprehensive Lift Act that can be implemented across UP. The formulation of the final act is pending with the state government. The provisions will be applicable to Ghaziabad following the formulation of the Act," GDA vice-chairman Vijay Yadav told TOI.